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<p>The cave populations of <i>Astyanax mexicanus</i> in northeastern Mexico are the subject of intensive study as a model for investigating evolutionary processes in subterranean environments. Investigating key evolutionary questions alongside conservation challenges requires a well-defined demographic framework. However, few estimates of population sizes have been obtained. In this study, we used genetic identification of cavefish individuals captured at various time intervals, ranging from a few days to several years, and in multiple caves, to gain insights into population size dynamics, population structure, and connectivity. We used 18 to 24 microsatellite markers to genotype and identify unambiguously 702 fish from six caves and several surface locations. The genetic distance between sampled fish, as well as short-term and long-term recaptures of cavefish, demonstrate that the most studied and sampled population, La Cueva de El Pachón, is small (comprising a few hundred individuals) and isolated. In contrast, populations in La Cueva de Los Sabinos and in El Sótano de Las Piedras, which we demonstrate belong to a well-connected cave cluster, could be larger, numbering in the thousands. At a larger geographical scale, our data suggest that the distribution of <i>A. mexicanus</i> cave populations in groundwater can be best described as a poorly connected network of oases within a karst desert.</p>

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Long-term genetic mark and recapture in Astyanax mexicanus cave populations: demographic inferences and conservation issues

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月24日

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  • Laurent Legendre,
  • Julie Rode,
  • Isabelle Germon,
  • Marie Pavie,
  • Stéphane Père,
  • Julien Fumey,
  • Maxime Policarpo,
  • Luis Espinasa,
  • Didier Casane,
  • Sylvie Rétaux

摘要

The cave populations of Astyanax mexicanus in northeastern Mexico are the subject of intensive study as a model for investigating evolutionary processes in subterranean environments. Investigating key evolutionary questions alongside conservation challenges requires a well-defined demographic framework. However, few estimates of population sizes have been obtained. In this study, we used genetic identification of cavefish individuals captured at various time intervals, ranging from a few days to several years, and in multiple caves, to gain insights into population size dynamics, population structure, and connectivity. We used 18 to 24 microsatellite markers to genotype and identify unambiguously 702 fish from six caves and several surface locations. The genetic distance between sampled fish, as well as short-term and long-term recaptures of cavefish, demonstrate that the most studied and sampled population, La Cueva de El Pachón, is small (comprising a few hundred individuals) and isolated. In contrast, populations in La Cueva de Los Sabinos and in El Sótano de Las Piedras, which we demonstrate belong to a well-connected cave cluster, could be larger, numbering in the thousands. At a larger geographical scale, our data suggest that the distribution of A. mexicanus cave populations in groundwater can be best described as a poorly connected network of oases within a karst desert.